**Program Date 11/12

**Cloudy Sky Date 11/14

Volunteers from the New Hampshire Astronomical Society will come to share their knowledge and their telescopes with community members for a Skywatch! This event is friendly for beginners. Enjoy the beauty of the night sky, learn how to identify objects through a telescope, and expand your knowledge of our universe. Attendees should exercise caution around this delicate equipment and will need to follow all instructions from the Astronomical Society volunteers. This program is appropriate for older children, teens, and adults. Suggested for grade 3 and above.

Telescopes will be set up in the staff parking lot behind the library which can be accessed easily from the front parking lot via the ramp on the right side of the building. Please see information below from the NH Astronomical Society's Website.

General Rules for public skywatches

Watch your step

Be especially careful of wires on the ground.

Park Carefully

Try to park so that your headlights and back-up lights won’t interfere with the observers.

No Smoking

Smoke damages telescope optics.

Red Flashlights

No white lights. A red light will not ruin your night vision as much as white light will. You can cover the lens of a regular light with red plastic or tail-light repair tape. A dim light will seem bright once your eyes become dark-adapted.

No Flash Photography

The bright flash of a camera can wreck everyone's night vision.

Stay Warm

Few people realize just how chilly it gets late at night, even in summer, particularly when you are standing still under a clear sky. Bring about twice as much warm clothing as you think you'll need. In summer, a light and heavy jacket, warm shirt, jeans. Winter calls for insulated boots, thermal underwear, corduroy jeans, parka, flannel shirt, gloves, and, very important, a warm knit cap!

COVID-19 Precautions

Mask wearing and up-to-date vaccinations strongly encouraged for everyone

Telescopes will be positioned at least 6' apart

Social Distancing - family groups 6' apart; no lines or crowding the scopes

Astronomer will back off 6' while observing is taking place (except to assist)

Eyepieces will be wiped down between observing groups